There were three main classes of Life-Saving Stations. Life-Saving Stations were designed to house paid crews, equipped with surfboats and other equipment to be used in the saving of lives from wrecked ships just off shore. These stations primarily were built along the Atlantic coast, but were later established along the shores of the Gulf, Pacific and the Great Lakes. Houses of refuge were built only to provide shelter, food and other provisions to those who were able to reach shore with out aid, and were found exclusively along the eastern coast of Florida. Lifeboats stations were the last type of station established. These stations were modeled after the British system, using volunteer crews equipped with lifeboats used in rescues. Stations of this type were also established along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Great Lakes as well.

The reason that they were manned only by couples was due to the fact that most ships that wrecked along the FL coast, the wrecks were so close to the shore that the crews could come ashore in their own boat. Then they needed food, water and shelter since no one lived along some of the longer stretches of beaches during that time.